Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!yale!bunker!hcap!hnews!371!33!Jean.Prophet From: Jean.Prophet@f33.n371.z1.fidonet.org (Jean Prophet) Newsgroups: misc.handicap Subject: Re: Money Message-ID: <13611@bunker.UUCP> Date: 21 Aug 90 02:47:39 GMT Sender: wtm@bunker.UUCP Reply-To: Jean.Prophet@f33.n371.z1.fidonet.org Distribution: misc Organization: FidoNet node 1:371/33 - Byte Size Bits, LaBelle FL Lines: 61 Approved: wtm@bunker.UUCP Index Number: 9906 [This is from the Spinal Injury Conference] > The hardest thing was that I really wasn't concerned about the > amount of $$ I was going to get..but I was feeling harassed, > belittled, etc...just because I wasn't in a "wheelchair"...(That's > what State Farm stated..."You'd get more $$ if you were in a > wheelchair!") I think ALL insurance companies try to intimidate you. Buddy isn't in a wheel chair either .... he walks only becuase he is SO determined NOT to be 'restricted' (his words). Alot of people think he's perfectally OK becuase he's mobile .... He ISN'T perfectally OK .... He suffers something terrible .. He forces himself to move around .... (He also puts on a wonderful 'front' to other people that don't really know him ... the DOCTORS know better ... the THERAPHISTS know better ... *I* know better ... Our FAMILY knows better .... but to outsiders, he looks OK most of the time. When he doesn't feel well, he 'hides' himeself away from the eyes of other people .... We had several confrontations with the insurance company. They 'watched' him carefully. He 'stumbles', drags his foot, spazms happen when he doesn't want them to happen .... The insurance company STILL wanted NOT to believe all the doctor's reports (and there were many INCLUDING the insurance companies doctors report that said Buddy was 100% disabled. They HAD to believe THEIR doctor .. . I understand how you feel about the insurance comapny making you feel 'degraded' and like you aren't telling the truth. They are brutal !! BUT, just hang in there ... DON'T let them get to you. You ARE important - You ARE hurt - You DO deserve compensation for your pain and suffering - and most of all, We all here DO love ya' !!!! > I guess what I am saying is that I am tired of it...and changing > myself was the first step..I am recovering... I understand that .... we fought for several years ... *I* got tired of it ... Buddy got tired of it. We wanted to 'give up' (but we didn't). > I even stopped going to the Chronic Pain support group, since > everyone else made their pain seem more important...and it was > depressing to listen to them. No one's pain is more important .... And a lot of people feel pain worse than others (Buddy's pain tolerance is VERY high ... mine, well, if I get a little 'cut' I think I'm going to die ). I'm sure that your pain is very real, and you might be one of those people (like me) that doesn't tolerate pain very well. I don't mean to be a 'Baby' about my pain (I have severe Arthuritus (sp) in my back) ... BUT, when it hurts, it HURTS !!! I try not to complain becasue Buddy's pain must be so much more severe than I can ever imagine .... I've tried not to complain at all, but I do (everyone does .... ). You just keep posting, we'll try and give all the support we can. You ARE important !!! Just keep remembering that. Love, Jean -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!371!33!Jean.Prophet Internet: Jean.Prophet@f33.n371.z1.fidonet.org